Pre-draft NFL draft analysts projected McKinney as a first or mid second round pick.
Lance Zierlein and
Daniel Jeremiah from NFL.com ranked him as the top safety in the 2020 NFL Draft and the 18th player overall. Former NFL executive
Gil Brandt considered him as the second best safety and the 32nd best overall prospect in the entire draft. NFL draft analysts from
Pro Football Focus,
Sports Illustrated, and
USA Today ranked him as the second best safety prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.
New York Giants The
New York Giants selected McKinney in the second round (36th overall) of the
2020 NFL draft. He was the first safety drafted in 2020.
2020 season On July 27, 2020, the
New York Giants signed McKinney to a four-year, $8.39 million
rookie contract that includes $6.02 million guaranteed and an initial
signing bonus of $3.22 million. Throughout
training camp, McKinney competed against
Julian Love to be the starting free safety. On August 25, 2020, it was reported that McKinney had fractured his foot during practice. The following day, the New York Giants announced that he had undergone surgery after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. On September 6, 2020, the New York Giants placed McKinney on
injured reserve. He was activated on November 28. He missed the first ten games of the season (Weeks 1–10). On November 23, 2020, the Giants officially listed him as designated to return from injured-reserve. On November 29, 2020, McKinney made his professional regular season debut and made one solo tackle in a 19–17 victory at the
Cincinnati Bengals. In Week 14, he earned his first career start, recording four combined tackles (one solo) during a 7–26 loss to the
Arizona Cardinals. On December 27, 2020, McKinney collected a season-high seven solo tackles (8 combined) in the Giants' 13–27 loss at the
Baltimore Ravens. On January 3, 2021, McKinney recorded a season-high eight combined tackles (four solo) and made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback
Andy Dalton that was intended for tight end
Dalton Schultz in the end zone with 1:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, clinching a 23–19 victory against the
Dallas Cowboys. He finished his rookie season with a total of 25 combined tackles (14 solo), one tackle for loss, a pass deflection, and an interception in six games and four starts. The New York Giants finished the
2020 NFL season second in the
NFC East with a 6–10 record and did not make the playoffs.
2021 season McKinney entered training camp as a backup safety as
Logan Ryan and
Jabrill Peppers were entrenched as the starters. Defensive coordinator
Patrick Graham listed McKinney as the backup strong safety to begin the season. On October 17, 2021, McKinney made three solo tackles, a season-high two pass deflections, and tied his career-high with two interceptions thrown by
Matthew Stafford and
John Wolford as the Giants were defeated by the
Los Angeles Rams 38-11. On November 3, 2021, the Giants announced that McKinney was in COVID protocol. On November 7, 2021, McKinney recorded seven combined tackles (four solo), two pass deflections, two interceptions, and a touchdown in a 23–16 victory at the
Las Vegas Raiders. During the third quarter,
Derek Carr attempted a pass to wide receiver
Hunter Renfrow, but it was picked off by McKinney and returned 41+yards to score the first touchdown of his career. His performance against the Las Vegas Raiders earned him
NFC Defensive player of the Week. He finished the
2021 NFL season with a total of 93 combined tackles (59 solo), ten pass deflections, five interceptions, and a touchdown while appearing in all 17 games and starting 16.
2022 season On January 11, 2022, the New York Giants announced their decision to fire head coach
Joe Judge after they finished the
2021 NFL season with a 4-13 record. He entered training camp projected to be a starter after Logan Ryan and Jabril Peppers both departed during
free agency. Defensive coordinator
Don Martindale named McKinney the starting free safety to begin the regular season, along with strong safety
Julian Love. In Week 6, McKinney collected nine combined tackles (six solo) during a 24–20 victory against the
Baltimore Ravens. During a Giants' Week 9
bye week, McKinney suffered a broken hand in an
ATV accident. On November 7, 2022, the New York Giants placed McKinley on the reserve/non-football injury list, which sidelined him for the next seven consecutive games (Weeks 10–16). On December 31, 2022, the New York Giants activated McKinney from the . He finished with 45 combined tackles (29 solo), five pass deflections, one sack, and a forced fumble in nine games and nine starts.
2023 season He entered training camp slated to be the starting free safety. Head coach
Brian Daboll named McKinney the starting free safety to begin the season, alongside strong safety
Jason Pinnock. In Week 11, McKinney collected a season-high 13 combined tackles (eight solo) and two pass deflections during a 31–19 victory at the
Washington Commanders. On January 7, 2024, he made six combined tackles (two solo), a season-high three pass deflections, and a season-high two interceptions by passes thrown by
Marcus Mariota during a 24–10 win against the
Philadelphia Eagles. He started a 17 games during the
2023 NFL season and recorded a total of 116 combined tackles (78 solo), 11 pass deflections, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries one forced fumble, and was credited with half a sack. McKinney, along with teammate
Bobby Okereke, were the only two defenders in the NFL to not miss a snap the entire season. He received an overall grade of 87.8 from
Pro Football Focus in 2023, ranking fourth among all safeties, and also earned a coverage grade of 91.2 from PFF.
Green Bay Packers 2024 season On March 11, 2024, the
Green Bay Packers signed McKinney to a four–year, $67 million contract that includes an initial
signing bonus of $23 million. He entered training camp as the 'de facto' starting strong safety under defensive coordinator
Jeff Hafley. Head coach
Matt LaFleur named him the starting strong safety to kick off the regular season, alongside starting free safety, rookie
Javon Bullard. On September 6, 2024, McKinney made his debut with the Green Bay Packers and recorded four combined tackles (three solo), a pass deflection, and had his first interception with the Packers on a pass thrown by
Jalen Hurts to wide receiver
DeVonta Smith in the first quarter of a 34–29 loss to the
Philadelphia Eagles. The following week, McKinney had four combined tackles (three solo), deflected a pass, and had his second interception thrown by
Anthony Richardson, while covering
Alec Pierce during the Packers' Week 2 home-opening 16–10 win over the
Indianapolis Colts. In Week 3, he continued his interception streak with a third pick off
Will Levis, while also amassing five combined tackles (four solo) and a pass deflection during a 30–14 win at the
Tennessee Titans. On September 29, 2024, McKinney had his fourth consecutive game with an interception, picking off a pass by
Sam Darnold intended for running back
Aaron Jones, and also had four combined tackles (one solo) and a pass deflection in a 29–31 loss against the
Minnesota Vikings. McKinney became the first Packer in history to record a pick in each of his first four games with the team, and just the fourth in NFL history, joining
Ken Lee,
Terry Jackson, and
Otis Smith. In Week 5, McKinney continued his interception streak, with an interception off of
Matthew Stafford thrown to
Tutu Atwell, while also making three combined tackles (two solo) and a pass deflection as the Packers won 24–19 at the
Los Angeles Rams. He became the first player since 1970 to record five consecutive interceptions in the first five weeks on a new team. In Week 18, McKinney had four combined tackles (three solo), a pass deflection, and had his eighth interception of the season off a pass thrown by wide receiver
Keenan Allen to running back
D'Andre Swift as the Packers ended the season with a 22–24 loss to the
Chicago Bears. He started all 17 games in
2024 and amassed a total of 88 combined tackles (60 solo), 11 pass deflections, a career-high eight interceptions, and a fumble recovery. In January 2025, McKinney was named to the
2025 Pro Bowl Games and a first-team
All-Pro. His eight interceptions were the second most in 2024, behind
Detroit Lions' safety
Kerby Joseph who finished with nine interceptions. He was ranked 30th by his fellow players on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025. ==NFL career statistics==